#AnnaBucketList17-September

As the leaves have started to change and dance to the ground, I am reminded on why I love Autumn so much. The mountains and valleys turn a burned orange, bright yellow and a deep red. It signifies change. Change is scary and it is the most amazing thing at the same time. I love the cooler weather (even though we totally got cheated on our Montana summer), warm drinks and the smell of the fire place. What I don't like-dark o'thirty in the morning when I head to the gym (because of murder-duh) and dark earlier. My intake of vitamin D is a daily cocktail that my phone reminds me to take.

Alas, I am now just getting to my bucket list for September. September seemed to go fast and then I was on a plane to Hawaii beginning of October (that will be an epic post, don't miss it!).

Before we go further, here the song that is my jam right now. 

I Am Here-P!nk

I kicked off my bucket list with something I have wanted to do for a few years. I biked the Hiawatha Trail. It was everything I thought it would be. The views were spectacular and it's basically a history tour on a bike. Going through tunnels and over old train trussels while taking in bits of the trails and surrounding towns story. I went with some friends from my local bike group. We rode down and shuttled back up (you can ride back up and it would be pretty easy). We rented bikes and helmets at the lodge. Then gathered for lunch at the lodge after. 

The Gang

Inside the tunnels!

Crazy views

Breakfast place

The Start

Wallace coffee shop extra!

Breakfast place bathtub art

Proper refueling

Amazing

Deer watching us, watch him

 During this trip over Labor Day weekend we stayed two nights in Wallace, Idaho at the Stardust Motel, which is iconic and centrally located in Wallace (well, everything is centrally located-ha!) I am so thankful for this bicycle group-1. they love biking. 2. they love exploring.  After our trip to the Hiawatha Trail, we headed back into town to explore. I stood in the middle of the street and at the center of the universe. Wallace is the town that when passing it on the 90 I think it should be in a snow globe and being in it, it's so unique and I believe that time does not exist there. While there, we went to a brewery, a cute breakfast shop around the corner from the motel and a bbq place. Being there reminded me of simpler time where you could leave your door unlocked and walk the streets at night safely, without murder. This town reminded me of where Goonies could have been filmed! Also, a sweet fun fact. Over Labor Day is this huge flee market under the main overpass. Quite a collection of things and individuals. I took a picture of a baby Jesus in a Christmas Nativity scene and text my dad "I found your baby Jesus!" He said no way, where was he? I said "Under a bridge!" haha. This is a reference to JesusGate2012 when baby Jesus was stolen from dad's front yard and he looked hi and low for him and couldn't believe someone would do that-it just isn't right he'd say. Then he got another one and trip wired his yard. 

Beers in Wallace

I wanted to climb these stairs. Next time!

Baby Jesus under the bridge

The next morning we headed out on the Trail of the Coeur d' Alenes . I have always seen my biking friends do this trail and I always heard it was beautiful. We drove out of Wallace and headed west to Cataldo and got on the trail there. It was so beautiful and it was so nice to pedal and enjoy the day with my friend Kelly. It was need to see wildlife, water and leaves fall reminding us that we should enjoy this nice weather whenever we can, Winter could be looming (that dirty b...). We rode to the end of the Chatcolet Bridge, which was really cool because its wavy pavement up and down it! Then we headed back to Harrison for lunch and to recharge. Then we biked back. A total of 70 miles of pure bliss and lots of conversation. That night we stayed in Kellogg at the Trail Motel. It was $52 dollars and in downtown, right across from a grocery store. Perfect for our last night. We grabbed some supplies at the store and called it a night with a picnic in our room and unsolved mysteries with John Walsh.

Beers in Kellogg

The next day we got up and headed the other direction from Kellogg to the end of the trail in Mullen. From Wallace to Mullen was a steady climb of false flat trail. We had been really happy to escape the smoke of the Montana fires for the weekend. Then we broke through the trees to Mullen and it hit us. The wall of smoke was bad and the sky was orange. So we took some quick pictures and then headed back to Wallace to the Brooks Hotel for some breakfast. See, our them is bike and food-ha! Then we headed back to Kellogg. Once back there was ash falling there now. So we hurried and changed in the parking lot and headed back to Montana. This was such a great trip and I honestly can say I will do this again! 

The next bucket list item was the Butte Triathlon. This was scheduled in August but canceled because of the smoke and moved to September. While on a trip to Jackson Hole, the race director called me and said due to the cold weather they would be doing a reverse triathlon. Would I still be interested? So, anyone who knows me, knows I love swimming and it's my strongest of the three. Actually, triathlon goes in the perfect order for me-swimming is my favorite, biking is my next love and running, well, sometimes we fight. So, my initial thought was "if swim isn't first...um no." But, that is old Anna and now new Anna was like "sure, I will show up it could be fun!." I was thinking bike, run then pool swim. I got there and found out we would be running first. I felt my stomach knot up. What? My weakest (working on getting to be strong) is first? I have been really working with my run pace and comfortableness (read previous post) so I just thought ok, this is a fun, cold day. Let's do it. It was trail first, a little muddy and sketchy in parts and I just kept thinking "Get me to the pavement part so I can really go and then get me to my bloody bike!" I got to transition and I was only a head of some participants. But, I knew I was strong at biking and I had on my Betty Skin Suit and it was time to fly and catch some of these "runners." I immediately got going. Catching people and passing them and always saying good job. It was cold and I run hot always so it was perfect-only my breathing was labored sometimes. It was fun going up rollers and seeing snow capped mountains. I passed horses and said hello! Hit the turn around and I knew I wanted to catch this young buck on his bike. Because, it's fun. Then out of the corner of my eye I spot something jumping a fence and coming towards me. A black and white border collie. So, anyone athlete will tell you that when they see a dog there is an instant panic. I was just trying to breathe and see what he wanted. He wanted to run next me-thankfully. He was just like "what are we doing? Ok, I will join!" Then he crossed my back tire and came on my crank side for a little bit. Then I saw him look at my foot and instantly I was like "Go Home!" He looked over at me and was confused and then a gal was biking in and so he went over to her to see what she was up to. It was about at this time I passed the horse again and he was just looking at us and I could tell he was thinking "crazy dog." Then I hunkered down and caught that guy and flew by him. Got into T2 frozen and waddled to the pool. Luckily it was heated. It took about 100-200 yards for me to feel all my body. Not my fastest swim but it was fun ending the bike knowing that my favorite leg was waiting for me.

At end of swim some participants were still there and they complimented me on my biking and saying they knew once I got on it I meant business. Means a lot because I have been just riding my bike because I love it and I worked my butt off in 2016 to get better. Then I stayed in the hot shower forever and came out for awards. First in my Age Group. I will take it! I local triathlons because the people are so nice. And I love going and meeting new people. I came home and went to feed my horse carrots and show him my medal. He was impressed.

Oh and one other cool thing, was this hat prototype. More to come on that!

Kelly and I did one more bike ride at the end of September to enjoy the lasting weather and then went to have breakfast. See, biking and breakfast! It's a thing. 

Oh and I turned 39 this month. I will relish this age for a few months until January when USAT tells me I am 40 and I get thrown back in with the super fast ladies again. So, that will be fun. 

Also, if you love my music choices (and why wouldn't you?) I started my own music list on Spotify under me titled #YoudoYou and always adding to it. Think long rides, hills and long runs and getting into your vibe. #TruckerHatCycling

Until next time September and as always, youdoyou. And a special thanks to Red Bull for giving me the energy to explore!

Getting Comfortable with Uncomfortable

My favorite time to write is when the weather is raining outside and I am drinking a warm coffee in a new location. I sit here in Jackson Hole at Cowboy Coffee feeling like I am off the grid, yet surrounded by groups of friends, the sounds of espresso machines and a modge pod of Mac computers. And this is my jam. Traveling and writing.  Now, if I just remembered to bring my beanie....

Here is the song I am digging right now. Especially when my friend Kayla has me working hard and thinks sucking wind work is fun. And my current state of mind. #boom

Glorious

I feel like my mojo is coming back. And by mojo, I mean motivation to set a goal. This year I wanted to travel and fall back in love with swimming, biking and running. And I have. My bike and I have crushed items off my bucketlist while exploring Montana and Idaho. I do have a secret love affair with Idaho. I podiumed there in my 70.3 last year (3rd in my AG-HOLLA!), but it's a great place to train.

While my mojo was reappearing, I signed up for a bucketlist race. One I have had my eye on for a couple years. And I was ready to work for it. Then my teammates and friends went and dominated Worlds and then I had the fire lit under me. I was ready to work. Now, just for some clarity, I have worked in the past and somewhat in the present. But, I mean to really push towards some hard goals and get my mental aspect out of it. You know, my Chimp brain (for those of you have read that book!).

So, what does working really hard mean for me? Being asthmatic, I get panicky about breathing. Which, to many is crazy because I love being in the pool and I am usually one of the first out of the water. But, the water has always been a source of calmness and peace for me. Ever since my days having the Laurel pool babysit me all summer for a $1, that I am sure my parents were more than happy to hand over. I remember my dad coming to the pool checking on me to make sure I was alive and making me eat PB & J sammies that he folded through the metal chain link fence. Still a source of comfort food. However, I had to work in the pool to get fast and comfortable. Last year I worked on the bike to get fast (and can always work on that), but this year I wanted to work on the run. Run is where I tend to fall apart on a race, so all the people I passed on the bike, they catch me on the run. And my mental game would suffer.

Being asthmatic is a lot of the reason I train alone. Trying to keep up with someone when all I can think about is oxygen is the worst. But, it many ways it has become a crutch of sorts. A reason to not really push it. Until this year. Until this summer/late fall. I asked for help and quietly shared my goals. I am working on goals and my mental game-which is basically saying "You will not die, just breathe..look you are okay...). Sounds easy. It's not. My first modification on speed made me say those exact things in my intervals. But, then a shift. I focused on what I could control, my breath, my mind. Then we did some speed intervals. Same thing. And it was hard for me and I learned to control what I could and then push through mental and physical limits at the same time. I had been in this comfortable space for so long, I was scared to become uncomfortable. But, that is life, right? Comfortable in your job. Comfortable in a relationship. Comfortable eating shit food. Comfortableness is the death of your dreams and hope for something better for yourself. Don't confuse comfortable for contentment. And the thing is, uncomfortable soon becomes comfortable.

I am ready to make changes and get real. I plan on doing more epic shit, even better. And so far it has been working. Thankful for my friends helping me shoot for hard goals.

Remember to explore and #youdoyou always.

#AnnaBucketlist17-August

Here I am in a coffee shop, writing my adventures for August. I forget that with my new computer I can just go wherever and write. I have missed that. I got my Masters in a coffee shop. I would go there everyday, plug in my music and write. I often listen to music when I write at work and of course, I am listening to it right now. Music is powerful. Never take it for granted.

So, as you guessed, here is my favorite song lately. I heard this first on a run and I instantly loved it. The video is a little odd, but the lyrics are amazing. Add this to your list! My favorite line "I was lightening before the thunder."

Thunder


Well, let's just start this August post with a teaser. I signed up for a bucket list race. And if you really know me, you know I am quite about my races. I only tell a few people or wait until the event gets closer or is sold out! Part of what I like about racing is that I get to go places and meet new people. And my little triathlon community, although I love them, seem to jump in any race they hear about-I mean who wouldn't, but that is the main reason I keep quiet. That and I like something to be mine for a little bit before announcing it to the world! So, stay tuned.

In August I crossed off a bucket list local triathlon. I did the Bitterroot Classic in Hamilton. It was touch and go on this race due to the smoke. But, alas it happened. I traveled down to Hamilton and stayed the night. My rule is if I can smell the smoke, I don't go outside-and of course the air condition needs to be not "you will die." I do need to be careful because I am asthmatic, but I woke up the next morning and couldn't smell it and so headed to the start. It was an outdoor swim. The bike I would not recommend. I heard it was rough. That may be an understatement. The road was patching and deteriorating. Never able to get in aero position and slow turns because you don't want to skid out. And when your bike is going over all this its rattling. The run is two loops. I did feel the air quality on the bike and run a bit as I was huffing a bit, but it was a sprint, so who knows! I met some really great people and made new friends. I also met some poor acting athletes. But, new friends for the win! It is a fun local one for sure and I love the local feel of races. Not sure I would do this one again, only because of the bike portion, but had fun nonetheless! I also put #Happy777 on my arm for a teammates hubby who is battling cancer! F*&ck Cancer.

I also was able to go see my IM sherpa in her natural habitat! My friend Summer is a crossfit badass! I have always wanted to cheer her and see one of these up close, versus online! It was epic. Still not my jam, but it was so cool to see on the front line and cheer for her!

This month I also booked a bucket list trip to Kona for the Ironman Championships. I wanted to go last year and I was in the mist of IMAZ training. So, my #bettybestie and I made a pact. If she kicks ass at IMAZ and gets a Kona slot, I would go to cheer. And she did! She got first in her AG and I will take some credit in nudging her to Carpe F*%king Diem that and she accepted the slot! So cashed in my extra check at work and booked the flight finally! I have never been to Hawaii! I rented a bike, booked a house with Betty Teammates and going to cheer my ass off!!

That is it for August for the bucket list! September is turning out to be a good one! So stay tuned! Remember to experience this world and meet new people. And, #youdoyou always! Go, do epic shit.